1 Chapter 1: Gamble your Afterlife Away

19th level of Hell

In this deep part of Hell, sounds of cards shuffling along with murmuring voices could be heard.

"Royal flush"

A shadow stumbled weakly before collapsing on the floor.

"Straight flush"

Another roughly grabs their chest as a round of heavy coughing causes blood to flow out.

"Full house"

The last one weeps erratically with snot drizzling down his nose as the sound of him kneeling echoes with a thud.

"Big Sis, I can't do this anymore! Please have mercy!" One of the shadows begged with pale complexion, tears dripping down his chin. Perhaps this expression would have garnered positive feedback on normal occasions. But to the only observer in this area, this facial contortion only looks akin to an elderly man suffering under the pains of constipation.

How pitiful, this thought ran across her brain as she snickered secretly.

The woman sitting across the table reached for a cup of tea before taking a sip nonchalantly. Eyes gradually misting over from the rising steam, it successfully covers her expression from being read. Pale lips raised into a sly smirk as her eyes gleamed with uncontainable mischievousness.

" Again." The woman demanded in a light tone as her gaze flitted past the three of them.

Unable to withstand another round of unreasonable torture, the shadow who fainted moments ago stood up with vigor. "Chu Nuan, you, you shameless woman! Do you think it is fun to torment miserable spirits like us!? Does your conscience not hurt to see us rolling on the ground in misery?" Hands trembling with restrained anger, the figure breathed heavily through clenched teeth.

Instead of showing anger, the woman addressed as Chu Nuan narrowed her eyes dangerously, "Oh~?"

Deliberately drawing out her "O's" in a pitch lower than usual, this emphasis caused the three shadows in front of her to shudder with unease. Droplets of sweat accumulate on their transparent bodies before sliding down their backs.

Wiping his bloody mouth, the shadow that was coughing a while ago said shakily, " It's not as if we won't play Big Sis. But you always use tricks to give yourself the best hands. How can we possibly compete in a game we have no means of winning?"

Folding her hands together on the table in front of her Chu Nuan looks at them in deliberation. A few seconds past when she finally asked, " so you'll play only if I don't use any tricks on my cards?"

"En, En!" Sending a few expectant looks between the three of them, they then nodded fiercely. " We'll play only if you don't employ any type of tricks on yourself."

Unfolding her fingers leisurely, Chu Nuan regathered the deck together as a smile pulled at the edges of her lips. Like a conductor on stage each card dances and sway from every exquisite action she manipulates. Before long, a single card lies face down in front of each player. "As you wish," she replies with unshaken confidence.

Forgoing any intentions to conceal, a hand causally flip over the card within reach to reveal three of diamonds. Showing satisfaction on what was obtained Chu Nuan overturned her hand to present her palm instead.

Making a "please sit," gesture towards the dazed spirits standing in front of her. She patiently indicated for them to fill the empty seats. "Your turn" she reminded with nonchalance.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by an unexpected turn of events, the three shadows look at each other once more before settling down. Their hearts beat rapidly in fear of the next coming round.

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The current situation:

Chu Nuan: has a variety of card numbers and suits.

The bloody mouth ghost: has an Ace, King, Queen, and Jack of hearts, observing closer it might be a royal flush.

The ghost who fainted before: has four 10's, perhaps to be four of a kind.

Crying ghost: the cards are mixed in numbers but follow the same suit, could be a flush.

At this point in time, all three spirits look up to see each other's eyes glowing with overflowing intensity. From the very beginning after their deaths, a few thousands of years have passed. From first entering Hell to being introduced to a game, from losing to the same person each day. Not a day has passed without being abused by a certain person's sharp tongue and skills. But today is different, today might be the day where they can finally win for once in their thousand years of afterlife!

Hands shaking with anticipation as they slowly reach towards their last card. Flipping it over in one breath they gasped-

"What is this?!"

"The heck?!"

"That's cheating!"

The three shadows gasped in shock at the last card revealed in their hands.

The image printed is of a muscular figure with the head of an ox. Upper body muscles glistens and bulges with a healthy copper gleam. You can almost see the sweat sliding down the grooves of those dynamic triceps. While biceps and pectoral muscle explode with each flexing motion. That black mini bikini only serves to highlight the explosive force behind every muscle fibers uncensored. Truly worthy enough to be printed on the front of specialized magazines.

Isn't this...Ox head warden? The three ghosts' line of thinking seemed to have been frozen by the picture in front of them.

If they have not seen wrong, something that stings the eye appears to have been mixed into a deck of normal(?) cards.

The shadows recover quickly with a shudder. Looking up at the woman in front of them with a glare, one of the shadows complained, " Big Sis! Didn't you promise not to use tricks?!"

Chu Nuan flipped over her last card leisurely, a 7 of spades. "I won." She said in a soft tone.

"I only remember promising not to disturb the cards in my hand but never said anything about shuffling your's."

Eyes widened and mouths opened agape, the three shadows stared with a bewildered gaze "...."

"It's getting late." Chu Nuan stood up from her seat whilst patting off nonexistent dust from her shoulders. "Remember to add 2,456 years to each of your sentences, I'll come back tomorrow so behave for me."

Turning away from the gambling table, she left the scene without a pause. Pretending to be oblivious at the vacant stares of the shadows, her chuckle lingers long after her figure disappears.

In a silent corner while the other two shadows are occupied, one of the ghosts wordlessly pockets the three photos. Ox warden has been his idol for the longest time. There hasn't been a day where he has not been envious of those steeled muscles.

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A few hours later…...The three ghosts huddled up together for a serious discussion.

"What are we going to do?" One asked with a pout to his lips.

"Another 2,456 years to our sentence I suppose." Another answered with resignation.

"Adding again? My sentence is already 699,932 years. If I serve any longer, I think mushrooms will grow from my head due to depression."

"How about…..we escape?"

"Escape?! How is that possible?"

Gaze flashing with a revealed sharp edge, he leans closer to the other two. "Easy, we just need to...."

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The next day on the cover of Hell's Daily.

"Big News! Big News! Three malicious ghost lords bombed the Bridge of Forgetfulness and have successfully escaped to the human realm! Is this a new act of terrorism or a plan to something more sinister?!"

"Is the Bridge of Forgetfulness made with soybean dregs?"

"With most of the Kings unfortunate absence, how will this incident be solved?"

"Follow us as we uncover the hidden affairs of Lady Meng, Keeper of the Bridge of Forgetfulness."